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Herbal Tea Cardi

With its winsome combination of stripes and buttons, this sweater will warm your heart. Its design ensures that you get just the right fit, as it is worked from the top down and can be tried on as you go.

Special Stitches

fpdc2tog (front post double crochet 2 together): Yo, insert hook from front around the first indicated st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook, yo, insert hook from front around the second indicated st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, draw through 2 lps on hook, yo, draw through all lps on hook.

fpdc-inc: (front post double crochet increase): Yo, insert hook from front to the back in the same sc used for the previous st, then insert the hook from the back to the front in the following sc, yo, pull up a loop, (yo, draw through 2 lps on hook) twice. (The following sc is worked in the same sc used to work the second half of the fpdc-inc st.)

sc (single crochet): Insert hook in indicated st, yo, pull up a lp, yo, draw through both lps on hook.

Ribbing Pattern (multiple of 4 sts)

Row 1 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st to end.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, *sc in next sc, fpdc in next 2 fpdc sts, sc in next sc; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-2 for patt.

Pattern Notes

Throughout the yoke, the RS and WS of this garment look identical. To easily tell them apart, place a removable marker in the fabric at the beg of the RS rows. Move this marker up as you work, so it can easily be seen.

Because of the nature of hand-dyed yarn, I highly recommend alternating skeins of yarn after every 2 rows to prevent color pooling and to avoid obvious color changes between skeins.

This sweater is worked from the top down. The yoke is worked from the neckline, with increases at 4 markers for raglan lines. At the underarm, the body and sleeves are separated. The body is worked down, with some waist shaping, then the sleeves are worked back and forth in rows, and seamed closed. The buttonbands are worked in the Ribbing Pattern and one row of single crochet is worked around the neckline.

Every sc worked in the yoke is worked through the back loop only (blo).

When working the Joining Row of the Body and the first row of the Sleeves, work each fpdc by inserting the hook in the same sc used for the last st from the front to the back, then out through the following sc. To work the sc following a fpdc st, insert the hook in the following unused sc.

Pattern

Yoke

With larger hook, loosely ch 77 (77, 77, 79, 79, 79, 81, 81), turn.

Set-Up Row (WS): Sk first ch, sc-blo in next 2 ch for Front, pm in loop on hook, sc-blo in next 16 ch for Sleeve, pm in loop on hook, sc-blo in next 40 (40, 40, 42, 42, 42, 44, 44) ch for Back, pm in loop on hook, sc-blo in next 16 ch for Sleeve, pm in loop on hook, sc-blo in next 2 ch for Front, turn – 76 (76, 76, 78, 78, 78, 80, 80) sc; 2 sc each Front, 16 sc each Sleeve, 40 (40, 40, 42, 42, 42, 44, 44) sc for Back. (Note: After each row, the markers fall in the first st of each section.)

Shape Front Neck and Raglan

Note: After working all sts as indicated in the marked st, replace the m in the loop on the hook to mark the first st of the following section.

Body

Rejoin yarn to work another RS row.

Note: Work all sc sts through both the front and back loops throughout the body.

Joining Row (RS): Ch 1, *sc in next sc, fpdc around each of next 2 sc, sc in next sc *; rep from * to * to m, replace m for side of Body, sk 56 (60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84) Sleeve sts, then work from * to * across Back sts to next m, replace m for side of Body, sk 56 (60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84) Sleeve sts, then work from * to * across Front sts to end – 132 (148, 164, 180, 196, 212, 228, 244) sts.

Next Row (RS): Work in Ribbing Patt as est, working 2 sc in each ch-2 sp as you come to them, turn.

Work 2 more rows in Ribbing Patt, ending after a RS row. Keep yarn attached to work neckband.

Neckband: With RS still facing and using yarn attached to buttonhole band, rotate work to work along the selvedge edge of the buttonhole band. Work 2 more sc in the last sc of the buttonhole band to turn the corner, then work sc evenly around the neck edge to the end of the Left Front Buttonband. Fasten off.